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Legal
These terms govern the sale of lots by Scintessa. Please read them before registering or bidding — by registering an account and placing a bid you agree to be bound by them.
Last updated 20 July 2026
These Terms of Sale (the “Terms”) set out the conditions on which Scintessa(“Scintessa”, “we”, “us”) offers lots for sale by online timed auction and on which you may register, bid and buy. They form a binding contract between you and us. By ticking to accept these Terms at registration, and by placing a bid, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to them. If you do not agree, you should not register or bid.
We may update these Terms from time to time; the version in force is the one published here at the time you bid. Material changes will be reflected in the “last updated” date above.
Each lot is described in good faith. Where a stone is certified, the independent laboratory report (for example GIA, IGI or an equivalent laboratory) is the definitive statement of its characteristics, and its grading opinions are those of that laboratory, not of Scintessa. Photography and on-screen rendering are illustrative; colour and scale can vary between screens.
Descriptions, measurements and any statement of provenance or condition are our honest opinion and are not warranties beyond what is set out in section 11. You are responsible for satisfying yourself as to each lot before bidding; we are happy to answer questions and, where practical, to provide further detail on request.
Estimates are a guide to likely selling price and are not an appraisal, a valuation or a guarantee. A lot may carry a confidential reserve — the minimum price at which it may be sold. The reserve is never disclosed and will not exceed the low estimate. If bidding does not reach the reserve, the lot goes unsold.
If you are the successful bidder, you pay the hammer price plus a buyer’s premiumat the rate stated on each lot, together with any applicable taxes and delivery charge. The full “all-in” amount you will pay is shown on each lot and itemised on your invoice, so there are no surprises at checkout.
Where we are required to charge Value Added Tax it will be shown separately on your invoice. A delivery charge and, where applicable, an online-bidding surcharge may apply as stated at the time of sale.
When a lot closes with you as the highest bidder at or above any reserve, a binding contract of sale is formed between you and Scintessa for that lot at the hammer price plus premium, taxes and charges. We will issue an invoice to your account. Ownership and risk in the lot pass to you only once we have received your payment in full and cleared funds.
Once payment has cleared, and any identity checks are complete, your lot is dispatched fully insured, tracked and signed-for to the delivery address on your account, or made available for collection by arrangement. Delivery timescales are estimates. Please check your lot on receipt and tell us promptly of any issue.
If you do not pay in full by the due date we may, without limiting our other rights: cancel the sale and the contract; offer the lot again or re-list it in a future sale; withhold delivery of this or any other lot; suspend or close your account; and recover any shortfall and reasonable costs. A defaulting bidder may be refused future registration.
We warrant that we have the right to sell each lot. Where a lot is sold with an independent laboratory report, we warrant that the report supplied relates to that lot. Save as set out here and as required by law, all other warranties, conditions and representations — including as to grading opinion, value or fitness for a particular purpose — are excluded to the fullest extent the law allows. Grading is a matter of expert opinion and laboratories may differ.
Nothing in these Terms affects your non-excludable rights under consumer-protection law. Note that certain cancellation rights that apply to ordinary online purchases do not apply to goods bought at a public auction. Where consumer cancellation rights do apply, we will honour them; please contact us and we will explain how they work for your purchase.
Lots that are, or contain, articles of gold, silver, platinum or palladium are sold subject to the Hallmarking Act 1973. Please read our Dealer’s Notice, which explains hallmarks and the standards of fineness and forms part of these Terms.
We may, before a lot closes, withdraw it, correct an error in its description, refuse or cancel a bid we reasonably believe is not genuine, or take reasonable steps to protect the integrity of the sale. Where a technical fault materially affects a sale, we may void the affected bids or re-run the lot.
We do not exclude or limit our liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or for fraud. Subject to that, and to section 11, our total liability arising out of or in connection with a lot is limited to the amount you paid us for it, and we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss.
We handle your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
These Terms and any dispute arising from them are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have non-exclusive jurisdiction.
For any question about these Terms or a sale, please contact us at support@scintessa.com or using the details in the site footer.